1968/2020
Two of the Worst Years in American History
When we began this process last January, there were already several eerie similarities between the year 1968, shortly after "Hair" premiered on Broadway, and the year 2020. These are two of the most tumultuous periods in American history and our production recognizes the intersections between these years. Below is a list of similarities with additional resources, and we also encourage you to listen to the Spotify playlist, which combines music from both of these years.
1960S/2020S CONNECTIONS
PANDEMIC
In 1968, there was an influenza outbreak that originated in China and lasted for two years. It was referred to as the "Hong Kong Flu" or "Hong Kong Pandemic" and was highly contagious. In comparison, the COVID-19 epidemic has seen a massive increase in xenophobia and has been referred to as the "China Virus."
MASS PROTESTS
The Black Lives Matter Movement has resulted in some of the largest political protests in American history. The murder of George Floyd and countless other Black deaths have continued to expose the vast systemic inequities of America; work that began in the 1960s with the Civil Rights Movement.
ROLE OF MEDIA
The Vietnam War was the first time that people saw firsthand the horrors of war. Media outlets were filled with images from the war and fueled people's outrage. Likewise, we've seen firsthand how social media can hugely influence society and politics in 2020, and how partisanship has played a role in shaping media as well. Specifically, platforms like Facebook have come under severe scrutiny for their role in the spread of misinformation.
